Virat Kohli celebrated after winning a match in the ICC T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, Sept. 30, 2012.

Virat Kohli has been named captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore for the upcoming Indian Premier League, marking another step in his ascendency to the captaincy of the national cricket team.

Royal Challengers Bangalore said Wednesday the 24-year-old would replace New Zealander Daniel Vettori as captain in the sixth edition of the IPL Twenty20 cricket league, which starts April 3.

Kohli’s talent as a cricketer has never been in doubt, but he has displayed a tendency for hotheadedness during his career, such as in Sydney early last year when he gestured angrily to local fans. He’s also often seen mouthing off at opponents and losing his composure when decisions don’t go his way.

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Many young and talented sportsmen are rambunctious, but few can match Kohli when it comes to backing up this characteristic with consistently fine results. Kohli has been one of the best cricketers in the world over the past couple of years and would walk into most international teams.

The abrasiveness may be diluted over the years as Kohli matures, but for now it reinforces the fact that he is a fierce competitor, which is the ultimate attribute for a captain. Australia’s Ricky Ponting shared similar heart-on-sleeve characteristics, and he is regarded by many as the best leader cricket has ever seen.

Announcing the decision to appoint Kohli as captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore, owner Vijay Mallya said, “His hunger to learn, lead, motivate and set an example is unquestionable.”

The new role provides a great opportunity for Kohli to demonstrate he has the right attributes to lead a team. The Bangalore IPL franchise is packed with experienced stars and national captains past and present such as Tillakaratne Dilshan, A.B. de Villiers, and Vettori. Not every 24-year-old would be comfortable at the pinnacle of such an illustrious pile.

Kohli’s confidence has never really been in doubt, but it would surely take a beating if he failed to lead a team that also includes Chris Gayle, T20s most devastating batsman, to at least the knockout stage of the tournament.

The captaincy of the Indian national team will be in Kohli’s sights, albeit at a fair distance. He led India to the Under-19 World Cup in 2008 and has worn the vice-captain’s armband in the senior side before, but a certain World Cup winning hero called Mahendra Singh Dhoni occupies the top position in all formats: Test, One-Day International and T20.

Dhoni’s stock as captain has taken quite a pummeling since the 2011 World Cup victory, culminating in a Test series defeat to England in December. That was the first time in nearly three decades that India had lost a Test series at home to England and the calls for Dhoni’s head grew loud, with former captain Sunil Gavaskar leading the chorus.

Dhoni rallied with strong performances in subsequent ODIs and T20s against Pakistan and India, but he now faces a new challenge in the Test series against Australia that starts Friday in Chennai. If results in the four match series don’t go India’s way, Dhoni’s captaincy will come under even more scrutiny.

Eyes would then inevitably look toward Kohli, in part because his on-field character – wild-eyed and infectiously enthusiastic – is so different to Dhoni’s laid back and sometimes reluctant persona. Even then, it would be premature to hand the captaincy to Kohli, who still has only played 14 Tests since his debut in 2011. Test cricket also poses far greater questions to captains than T20.

But Kohli remains India’s best option for when Dhoni stands down or falls out of favor, and his promotion in the Bangalore ranks is the latest proof. Dhoni needs his India team to beat Australia to keep the young pretender at arm’s length.

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